Announcing the 2026 Giovanni Vitrano Foundation Scholarship Winners

Announcing the 2026 Giovanni Vitrano Foundation Scholarship Winners

We're proud to announce this year's Giovanni Vitrano Foundation scholarship recipients — three outstanding student-athletes from across the Tallahassee area who exemplify the drive, resilience, and community spirit at the heart of everything Gio stood for.

This year's scholarships bring our total to $47,000 awarded since the foundation's founding — made possible by everyone who bought a ticket to the Gio Cup, made a donation, or simply spread the word.

Meet This Year's Recipients

• Matias Pardi — John Paul II ($6,000)
• Citlali Martinez — Florida High ($2,000)
• Sam Bruce — Wakulla ($2,000)

Each of these students overcame real challenges on their path to graduation, and each gave back to their communities in ways that go far beyond the soccer field. You can read their full stories on our Past Winners page.

"Every year, I'm reminded why we do this. These kids don't just play the game — they carry themselves the way Gio would have wanted." — Ron Vitrano, President

Thank you to everyone who supported this year's scholarship program. Applications for the Class of 2027 scholarship open this fall — stay tuned for details on our Scholarship page.